Motor Vehicle Legal Questions and Answers

While the laws regarding motor vehicles vary from state to state, there are certain similarities across the United States in the areas of titling registration and fees, taxes and drivers' licenses. On LawServer you'll find federal as well as state laws pertaining to motor vehicles and related legal questions & Answers.

Nationals of countries who have ratified the International Road Traffic Agreement may drive their cars in the United States for touring purposes without U.S. license plates and drivers' licenses. DOT must be notified in writing of the trip.

Vehicles imported by non-residents

Non-residents who are planning to import their own vehicles must ensure they have all the documents needed to avoid additional fees. This includes the bill of lading, certificate of origin, as well as any other legal documents covering the vehicle. In addition the documents pertaining to the vehicle need to be in English. If the vehicle is shared by multiple people, each signature needs to be notarized. A black and white copy of the driver's license or ID card should be attached to it. If they do not possess these documents, a Power of Attorney can be used to sign the necessary paperwork.

To allow an imported vehicle to be considered legally titled in the United States, it must conform to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Particularly DOT standards demand that Motor vehicle Accident lawyers vehicles that are less than 25 years old adhere to safety and bumper standards and that the manufacturer of each such automobile affix a label on each such vehicle that indicates that it is in compliance with these standards.

Additionally, EPA regulations require that all vehicles meet air pollution emissions standards. If a non-resident wants to import an automobile that does not meet the standards then they must submit EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form H-7 with CBP at the time of entry in order to get prior approval from EPA.

Imported Racing Vehicles

The laws governing motor vehicle accident vehicles vary from state to another, however there are some similarities across the country when it comes down to registering an automobile and getting a driving license. Federal laws also regulate highway, driver and vehicle security. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, within the Department of Transportation, establishes and enforces standards for vehicles and other equipment. This includes motor sports-related rules and regulations.

If you intend to import cars for racing in the United States, the first step is to obtain prior written approval from the DOT. This is only available for cars that are imported for a long time or temporarily entered for racing purposes.

In order to qualify to be eligible, you'll need to have an CAMS license and demonstrate your previous participation in motorsports and a legitimate need for the car. You will also need to satisfy other requirements for compliance, such as the use of child restraints points and 17-digit VIN plates.

The EPA will not allow you to import race cars into the US unless the car is race-ready at the time of entry and does not possess any features that render it unsafe or not suitable for use on highways and roads. You will have to select the box 7 on the HS-7 form that you will be filing with customs and submit an EPA letter of approval prior to the vehicle clears customs.

Imported Touring Vehicles for touring

Motorists traveling to the United States as tourists from Central and South American countries which have been ratified by the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may drive their cars in the United States for one year or the validity period of their documents, whichever is shorter and without needing to get license plates or driver's permits. However, they must to present EPA forms AP 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 at the time of entry.

Imported vehicles used for touring are also subject to customs duty of 40% and 10 percent VAT, as well as an ad valorem rate that can range from 15% up to 100% based on piston displacement. Additionally, spare parts sent with the imported vehicle are also subject to these duties and taxes. Personal presence of the car-owner is necessary.

Vehicles imported for commercial purposes

The law defines a "motor vehicle" to mean any device capable of transporting persons or property and is propelled using power other than muscle power. This is true for all vehicles, with the exception for (a) electric personal mobility devices that are operated by a person who suffers from handicap, (b) farm type tractor used for the farming or agriculture business and implements of snow plowing or grooming, (c) vehicles that operate solely on rails or tracks and (d) vehicles that run on all-terrain surfaces. The definition could differ slightly between states, and the vehicles that aren't eligible for exemptions are subject to the licensing, registration, and financial accountability laws of the state.

The state's motor vehicle division regulates new and used dealers, manufacturers, moving companies and other businesses related to motor vehicle accident attorneys vehicles. It also oversees the state Lemon Law, which offers relief to consumers who can prove that they purchased a vehicle that was defective or a truck.

The definition of a"government" motor vehicle is any vehicle that is acquired by the executive branch via purchase excess, forfeiture commercial lease or GSA fleet lease and utilized for the purpose of fulfilling an agency's or organization's transportation function. This includes both domestic fleets as well as foreign ones. The term also encompasses any vehicle that is used to respond to emergencies or motor vehicle accident lawyers provide other emergency services through the Public Safety Department. The definition does not include private vehicles of firefighters or police officers ambulances, as well as vehicles belonging to the commissioners court of a county with more than one million.